ASRock ION3D (152B with Bluray) Review featuring Cyberlink

If I was being honest, I didn't have high hopes for the ASRock ION3D. I have never really been an active advocate of the ATOM processor as previous experiences have always ended with me pulling out my hair in frustration, waiting for things to happen. The Intel D525 is still no powerhouse, but the real world experience is much improved, especially when we clock it to 2.1ghz. The build quality is excellent.

This little machine can handle it all – 1080p MKV's, Bluray discs, encoding and general day to day tasks such as surfing, email and office work. I even played a little with Adobe Photoshop and if you keep the file sizes sensible then it is snappy enough.

The only issue I had was with the 5,400 rpm hard drive – maybe I am just spoilt with SSD systems, but I immediately noticed how slow it was when installing Windows 7. People can compromise a little when using a system like this, but I wanted to swap the drive out with something sensible, such as the 40GB entry level value model from Intel. I wouldn't be exaggerating when I say that it was almost like purchasing a new machine, the differences were that noticeable. Windows booted up in less than half the time, applications were much more responsive and the end user experience shifted up a gear. While this obviously adds another £80 to the overall cost, it is the first (and only) thing I would change with the ASRock ION3D. The 320gb drive could then be used in an external chassis for file storage.

The nVidia GT218 is an ideal partner for the Intel processor as it consumes a miniscule amount of power yet can assist the D525 Atom in delivering a much better experience, especially with High Definition media. I never thought I would be able to responsively answer email while a 1080p bluray disc was playing in the background. In the past a similar system would have locked out for quite some time while it tried to free up enough cycles to keep going.

KitGuru says: The ASrock ION3D looks great and consumes less power than a light bulb, even when fully loaded. An exceptional product and a great media choice for a living or bedroom environment. For £399 this would be at the top of our shortlist.

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